On November 7, 2024, CARCEIT hosted a seminar featuring Thomas Kral, a PhD researcher from Lancaster University, who presented his ongoing PhD research on the role of English in a non-elite women’s college in South India. In his talk, "Confronting English at a Women’s College in the Indian Periphery: Stories of Agency, (Dis)empowerment, and Decolonization," Kral shed light on the daily experiences of students who see English as both a stepping stone toward independence and a hurdle. Through personal narratives, Kral painted a vivid picture of students striving for empowerment, yet often facing societal expectations and the lingering influence of colonial language norms.
Kral’s presentation highlighted the unique challenges and aspirations of these students, many of whom are the first in their families to pursue higher education in English. From dreams of career success to struggles with native-speaker norms, the seminar opened up meaningful discussions on the transformative power of language. A recording of this hybrid event is available below.
